Display apparatus



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L.R.MCDONALD DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Nov. a, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Snow/woz.

III)

Patented Der.. 29, 1925.

LESLIE R. MCDNALD, F MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA..

VDISLAY APPARATUS.

Application filed November To all 'whom t `may concern.:

`Be it :known ythat JI, LusLin R. liloDoNnnn, azcitizen :of the United States, `residing at Montreal, '.Qiieibec, Canada, .have invented certain `.new and 'useful .Improvements `in Display Apparatuses, of which the following is a specification. My `invention relates `to that class of display'apparatus'wherein flexible placards are wound around a:rotatableiholderand are released andallowed'to unroll,oneby one,and successively drop into view position, particularly to that class of such apparatuses wherein placards of substantially greaterl length than the circuniference of the rotatable holder are. used, and-are permittedto unroll and drop forward and down, successively, -as the carrier revolves: my improvement being particularly :directed to the means whereby each placard is raised and positively -iushed forward over 'the carrier, until it will unrolliof its own weight and fall forward into proper Iview position. Other olijeetsof my invention are to simplify the placard-carrying and rotating mechanism: to make the placardearrier readily insertable in and removable 'from its carrying frame; and to improve fthe details of `the mechanism employed, all as will be hereinafter pointedout and explained.

ln -the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front view of my improved apparatus; 'Fig'. 2 is a back viewof the same, with the back ofthe case removed, and with medial portions broken away so as to condense lthe figure; Fig. 3 `is a top View, with fthe top of the. case removed, and also shortened by the omission .of a medial part, the rear base extension being also ibrokenaway'; Fig. tis a side view, with the side of the case removed, taken as looking to the left on Figp; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are on ali-enlarged scale ais-compared to Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a detail taken from in front of the back support for the placard ends; Fig. -6 is a view of the same taken Aas looking tto 'the left on Fig. 2: 7 is a longitudinal sectional view vof the placard carrier and its supporting and driving mechanism, the iigure being shortened by I'the omission `of a medial portion; Fig. Sis an end view taken on .the line 8 8 of Fig, T, looking to the right, of the placarclcarrier rotating means; Fig. 9 is across sectional viewof the placard carrier taken as on the line 9-9 of Fig?, looking to the right; Fig. `1() is Van elevation n f `the bottom 'the motor showing its speed SelialNO. '748,537'.

governor, partly'in section; Fig. 11 is a bottom `View of =the same, Fig. 12 isa longitudinal sectional detail illustrating the supporting and connecting means for `the placard-:lifting roll; Figxl is a detail of the placard-.lifting roll shaft, .taken as looking down on Fig. 12; `and ='F ig. 14 is a vertical sectional Vview vtaken on the line l1-l1 of Fig. 12, looking to the left.

Similar .parts are designated by ceri-esponding reference numerals in Iall the figures.

The apparatus .is assembled in a suitable case lpprovided with an open or glazed `front 2, and also provided with suitable supports as 3, 4, in lits ends for detachably receiving and carrying `the placard carrier. i

In recesses 5, (i, in the supports 3 and d, rest the-ends of a rod 7, upon which are hung two arms 8, 9, in the opposite ends of which are journalled the ends of a shaft 10. Yupon which is mounted a placard carrier Awhich embodies -a drum element 11 held `between flanged `edges 12, 18, overlapping disks 11, 15, a series of sockets 16, 16 being formed in the outer edges of the disks 1l, 15, overlapped `by the lflangededges of the disks 12, 13, so as to form 4pockets into 'which the ends of flexible strips 17, 17, `may be sprung.

By 'folding the ends of `the placards around the strips 17, 17, and then springing the endsof the Astrips into place in the retaining pockets, the placard may lbe attached to the carrier, being' held in place against springing outward by the continingeflect of the roll vof placards which is maintained around the carrier during operation. It -will be seen, therefore, that the placard carrier with its placards can be lifted bodily `out of the top of Ifthe machine by raising the rod 7 out of its Ibearings in the framework. This greatly facilitates the attachment and `detachment of t-he placards; and even makes it practicable to inserta `new placard carrier with placards entire, if `that is desirable in the practical operation of the apparatus.

A'pa-wl Q0 is hung-on the rod 7, its free endiengaging the ratchet teeth 21, 21, on `the circumference of `the disk 12; `and secured `to -the arm 9, preferably adjustably, as by bolts 22, 23, passing through the arm, is an extension 221i,'preferably provided with an adjustment 's101325 registering with the bolt 22; and also proided at its free end with a roller which Ytravels against `a cam it? mounted lon arshaft 28 carried inaneccentric bearing 31 adjustably secured, as by a locksoft rubber or such other suitable material ing nut 32, in the end casing of the apparatus.

By turning the bushing, the position of the shaft 2S and eccentric 27 can be slightly changed relative to the shaft 10, so as to give considerable nicety of adjustment for the placard carrier. This permits the making of allowance for variations in the thickness and number of the placards, and the like, in the practical operation of 'the apparatus.

A gravity, detent pawl 34 is also pivoted in the casing of the apparatus and engages with the lteeth 21, 21 on the disk 12.

A gear wheel 35 is mounted on the shaft 28, meshing with a pinion 36 turning on a shaft 37 fastened in the end frame of the apparatus, the pinion 36 being attached to a worm gear 38 meshing with a worm 39 on a shaft 40 driven by an electric mot-or 41. On the lower end of the casing of the motor is threaded a disk 42 having an annular groove as 43 therein in which is inserted a washer 44 bearing against a 'spring disk 45 attached to the end of the shank 40, and provided with depending weights 46, 46,

. which will tend to ily outward, by c-entrifugal force, when the shank 40 is rotated and to dish the disk 45 toward the washer 44 more or less strongly according to the rapidity of the rotation of the shank 40. The periphery of the disk 42 is notched; and a spring detent 47 attached by one end to the motor casing, engages wi'th its free end in the notches 48, 48 of the disk 42; so as to lock the disk 42 in the selected position to which it may be adjusted by screwing it up or down on its support. This arrangement permits of the accurate adjustment of the motor governing means so that it may be arranged to maintain a uniform, even, drive of the mechanism by the motor.

A worm gear 50 meshes with the worm 39, being carried on a shaft 51 passing through an adjustable bearing 52 in the end frame of the apparatus, the bearing being eccentrically bored; so that by turning the bearing the position of the shaft 51 may be slightly altered, to permit the take up of wear between the worm and the worm gear and to make other niceties of adjustment, the bearing being locked in a selected position by means of a nut 53 which is threaded upon it.

On the inner end of the shaft 51 is secured, as by a set screw 54, a sleeve 55, which is provided with a transverse pin 56. A shaft 6() in a bearing 61, has one end inserted in 'the sleeve 55, being provided with a slot 62 to straddle the pin 56. This arrangement permits a certain amount of flexibility of adjustment between the shafts 51 and 60.

On the shaft are mounted, preferably, two lifting rollers 63,63, which are made of as will adapt them for engaging with and lifting a placard without marring it. When the rear placard is in contact with these rollers, if they are rotated, they may be made to lift and push the placard upward, relative to the carrier, as will be hereafter further explained.

Mounted in the framework of the appara- 'tus is a placard 'support 65 provided with a transverse member 66 carrying blocks 67, 67 of rubber or similar material, against which the ends of the group of placards 68 rest, being held against thesupport by their own weight, as the engaging elements 67, 67 are projected forward beyond the perpendicular line of the placards by the. support 65.

Suitable illuminating means, as the lamps 70, 70 may be mounted in the apparatus and connected in circuit with the motor 41 if that is desirable.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows.

The placards are first mounted upon the carrier, as above explained, by folding their ends around the strips 17 and thenspringing the ends of the strips into the sockets in the heads of the carrier, eachsuccessive sheet serving to hold down the strip behind it from springing out of position, and the roll of sheets, when mounted, effectually serving to prevent the dislodgment of any of the strips 17. This greatly facilitates the attachment and detachment of the placards as changes may be desired.

lhen the placards have been thus arranged on the carrier and the carrier properly positioned in its bearings, the ends of the placard will hang down past the support 66,

- swinging back thereagainst. On starting the motor 41 its worm 39, through worm gear 38, pinion 36 and gear 35 will rotate the shaft 28 and the cam 27 at such a rate of speed as may be predetermined by the adjustment of the motor governor above described.

The rotation of the cam 27 causes the placard carrier to be dropped back and then raised again once during each revolution of the cam 27, through the agency of the roller1 26 on extension 24 attached to the arm 9. During this upward swing of the carrier the detent 34 holds the ratchet disk 12 against rotation, with the consequence that the upper edge of the disk will be thrown forward relative to the pawl 20 a distance controlled by the extent of the swing of the carrier. If the adjustment is so made that that swing will allow one tooth of the ratchet disk 12 to pass the pawl 20, the lowering of the carrier, when the depression in the cam 27 next reaches the roller 26, will result in rotating the carrier the distance of one tooth, in a clockwise direction, as looked at in Fig. Sw-This rotation of the carrier Causes the free end of the rearmost placard to be aised clear of the engaging elements 67 on the transverse bar 66 of the support 65, While the end of the next to the llast placard rests against the supporting elements `6T `and is pressed toward them bythe nf'eight of the other E,placards in front of it, the naturevof the support 67 causing the material of the placard to cling somewhat thereto. The

' rearward swing of the placard carrier causes the `rearmost placard to be pressed against the lifting roller 6-, 63, which are being' driven in an anti-clockwise direction, as looked at in Fig. 8, through the medium of the shafts 60, 5l, Worm gear 5t) and Worm 39. The rollers 63, 63, therefore, will draw upand push forward the rearmost placard causing it to gradually fall forward over the placard/carrier to such an extent that when the placard carrierfis next swung forward bythe cam 2T, so as to release the placard from pressure `against the roller G3, 63, the placard Will unroll of its own Weight and fall lforward dropping its free end into View position, in Which position it `will remain while the roll 26 is traversing the raised portion ofthe cam 27. Duringthis throwing forward of theplacard, the placard preceding it VWill be held'by the clinging action of the support-67, 67, sufficiently to prevent its being drawn `up by the friction of therising placard against iForit `Will be seen that Whenthe end of the rearmost placard is raised above the support 6.7, G7, that placard will naturally swing back somewhat so as to open a space between it and the next preceding one and toalloiv them to practically hang clear of 'each oth ,r np to the carrier. These movements vill be repeated with each revolution of the cam 27, the placards attached to the carrier being thus exhibited, one by one, and successively remaining stationary and exposed to viciv a length of time governed by the speed of the cam 27. y By means of my improvements I obtain a compact, simple and etlicicnt apparatus for displayingloing-sheet placards, which is-particularly adapted 'to the ready attachment and `detachment of the placards; the removal of the placard carrier and placards as a unit; the adjustment of the operating parts to accommodate them to modified conditions caused by changes in the number or thickness of the placards and the Wear of the parts; and also being proyided with efficient, automatic speed governing means of simple construction so that the apparatus may be arranged to run at such a uniform speed as maybe found most desirable for the satisfactory display of the placards.

I desir-e it to be understood that the details of construction of my mechanism may be modified, as bythe substitution of me- Y clianicalequivalents, Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as claimed, the particular forms of mechanism for accomplishing-the results aimed at being intended as illustrative types and not as exclusive embodiments of my improvements.

Having thus described my invention, what vI` claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:-

l. In a display apparatus, the combination of placard carrier rotating means and a rotatable placard carrier, a series of ilexible placards each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon with their free ends depending therefrom, and means for frictionally engaging the back of and lifting the depending portion of the placard,

2. In a display apparatus, the combination of pla lard carrier rotating means and a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon with their free ends depending therefrom, and means for frictionally engaging-the back of and lifting'the depending portions of the ,placards, successively.

3. In a display apparatus, the combination of placard carrier rotating means and a rotatable placard carrier, a series` of flexible placards each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon with their free ends depending therefrom, and rotatable means for frictionally engaging the back lof and lifting the depending portion vofa placard.

4. In a display appa atus, the combination of placard carrier rotating means and a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon with their free ends depending therefrom, and means for frictionally engaging` the back of and lifting the depending portion of a placard sutliciently to cause the placard to be drawn forward over the carrier by its on'n weight.

In a display apparatus, the combination of placard carrier rotating means, moyeable carrier supports, and a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible plat-artis each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon with their free ends depending therefrom, means for frictionally engaging the back of and lifting thc depending portion of :1 placard, and means for moving the carrier supports and the carrier to bring a placard into operative engagement with the lifting means;

6. In a display apparatus, the combination of placard carrier rotating means, swinging carrier supports, means for swinging the supports, and a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon with their free ends depending therefrom, means for frictionally engaging the back of and lifting the delll!) pending portion of a placard, and means for swinging the carrier supports and the carrier to bring a placard into operative engagement With the lifting means.

7. In a display apparatus, the combination of placard carrier rotating means and a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon with their free ends depending therefrom, means for frictionally engaging the back of and lifting the depending portion of a placard, and means for periodically moving the placard carried toward and away from the lifting means to bring a placard into operative engagement With the lifting means.

8. In a display apparatus, the combination of placard carrier rotating` means and a rotatable placard carrier, a series of fienible placards each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon With their free ends depending therefrom, and periodically cooperating means for frictionally engaging the back of and lifting the depending portion of a placard.

9. In a display apparatus, the combination of placard carrier rotating means and a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon with their free ends depending therefrom, means for frictionally engaging the back of and lift.- ing the depending portion of a placard, means for periodically moving the placard carrier toward and away from the liftlng means, and means for causing such movement of the carrier to rotate it step by step.

10. In a display apparatus, the combination of placard carrier rotating means and a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon With their free ends depending therefrom, means for frictionally engaging the back of and lifting the depending portion of a placard, and means, embodying cam rotating means and a. cam and means actuated by the cam, for periodically moving the placard carrier away from and allowing it to return toward the lifting means to bring the placards successively into contact with the lifting means.

11. In a display apparatus, the combination of placard carrier rotating means, snf'inging carrier supports, means, embodying cam moving means and a governing cam, connecting means between the cam and said supportsl for swinging such supports, and a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexiblel placards each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon with their free ends depending therefrom,` and means for frictionally engaging the back of and lifting the depending portion of a placard, swinging the supports serving to bring a placard into engagement with the lifting means.

12.. In a display apparatus, the combination of placard carrier rotating means, swinging carrier supports, means, embodying a governing cam and adjustable intermediate means, forI swinging such supports, and a rotatable placard4 carrier," a series of flexible placards each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon with their free ends depending therefrom, and means for frictionally engaging the back of and lifting the depending portion of a placard, swinging the supports serving to bring a placard int-o engagement With the lifting means.

13. In a display apparatus, the combination of placard carrier rotating means and a rotatable placard carrier, a series of iiexible placards' each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon With their free ends depending therefrom, and rotatable means, embodying a clinging-faced roller, for frictionally engaging the back of and lift-ing the depending portion of a placard.

14. In a display apparatus, the combination o-f placard carrier rotating means and a. rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon With their free ends depending therefrom, and rotatable. means, embodying a positively driven clinging-faced roller, for frictionally en aging the back of and lifting the dependineY portion of a placard. i'

15. In a display apparatus, the combination of placard carrier rotating means and a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards each' attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon with their free ends depending therefrom, and rotatable means, embodying adjustable connectingy means and a clinging-faced roller, for frictionally engaging the back of and lifting the depending portion of a placard.

16. In a display apparatus, the combination of placard carrier rotating means and a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon with their free ends depending therefrom, a back support for such free ends provided with clinging elements` means for periodically raising the free end of the rearmost placard freel from such clingingelements, and means for frictionally engaging the back of and lifting the depending portion of a placard.

17. In a display apparatus, the combination of placard carrier rotating means and a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards each attached by one end thereto and partially rolled thereupon with their free ends depending therefrom, a back support for such free ends provided with; clinglll() ing elements, means for periodically raising the free end of the rearmost placard free from suoli clinging elements, and means for lli'ietionally engaging the back of and liftthe depending port-ion of a placard after it has been freed from the clinging elements.

1S. In al display apparatus, the combina tion with supporting means and carrier rotating means, of a readily detachable unitL embracing a placard carrier and movable supporting means therefor' adapted to retain it in operative relation to the rotating means.

19. In a displayT apparatus, the combination with supporting means and carrier rotating means, of a readily detachable unit embracing a placard carrier and swingingl supporting means therefor adapted to maintain it in operative relaticn to the rotating means.

20. In a display apparatus, the combination with supporting means and carrier rotating means, of a readily detachable unit embracing a transverse rod, swinging arms attached thereto, and a placard carrier journalled between said arms, which are adapted to maintain it in operative relation to the rotating means.

LESLIE R. MGDONALD. 

